Automobile-lock



E. MCCRACKEN.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK. APPLICATION FILED Au.G.9. IQIQ.

.1 3 5 1,297 Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

kyo@ WUMW UNITED -sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR MGCRACKEN, 0F ALBIA," IOWA.

p AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

I Specification of Letters Patent.V Patented 31, 1920.

Application filed August 9, 1919. SeralNo. 316,362.

' and lock the machine from movement.

The general object of my invention is to provide a locking device which is fixed in position and which extends upward from its base and into which the axle of yan automobile may be shifted by a proper movement of the automobile, this movement of the axle into the locking device causing-the automatic locking of the axle until a key is used to unlock the device. f

A further object is to provide a device of this character including an upwardly extending member having its lower end embedded in concrete and having a slot adjacent its upper end at such a height that the axle of an automobile may pass into the slot, said member having at its upper end a locking plate with which the axle engages, which locking plate is rotated by the axle to a locking position and then 'becomes latched so thatthe automobile cannot be shifted from its engagement with the locking device until this latch is released by the use of a proper key.

Other objects will appear in v the following description. Y

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure lis a side elevation of my automobile lock, one of the side walls of the lock casing being removed and the'foundation in which the lock casing is mounted bein@ shownin section y Fig. 2 is a like view to Fig. 1, but showing the locking disk in its receivingposition; l l

Fig. 3 is' a section' on'the line 3-3 of Fi 2.

eferring to these drawings, it will be seen that my device comprises an upwardly extending casing which is relatively thin and whose lower end is adapted to be emthe course of bedded bin concrete and which consists of two laterally disposed plates or webs, designated 10, disposed in spaced relation to each other, and which plates are riveted together, one or both of the plates being formedy with a marginal flange 11 `which extends around the margin of the device and extends over the space between the plates. These platesy are preferably made of steel, and ordinarily the plates will-'be .17 high by 10 wide. yEach of the side plates is formed adjacent its upper end with an inwardly extending slot 12, the slot extending through the flange l1, and the flange 11 is also cut away, at 13, at one point for a purpose to be later stated. 4

Disposed within the casing formed by the platesflO and the flange 1,1 is a locking disk or'plate 14r` which is circular in form and Apivoted, at 15, and which is formed with a tangential slot'16.V ThisV slot is adapted in one position of the disk k1&1l to aline with the slots 12, and in another position of the disk to be disposed at'rightV angles to theslots 12. This slot and the slots 12 are preferablyabout 2% inwidth. `Diametrically opposite one side wall of the slot 16, the

plate is formed with a notch 17, and coacting with this notch is a detentV 18 inthe form of a pivoted'latch, one endvof which rides overthe periphery of the disk'and is adapted to shift into'the notch 17. The opposite end of the latch may be pressed do-wnward by a spring or urged downward by gravity. I have shown a spring for this purpose, which is designated 19,r but I `do not wishto be-limited to this.

Key lactuated means is` intended to be` used for the purpose of raising the outerk end of the latch 18v to release the disk. 'I have illustrated for this purpose alock such as a pinlock having-a bolt 20..-V By insert- .ing thefkey in this lock and rotating it, the

bolt 20 may be forced upward,`thus forcing the latch up and releasing it 'from its engagementwith the notch 17 ofu the disk. I do not wish to be limited to this locking means, however, as' any, key actuated lock -might be used. for this purpose. The two rfi() be used for holding the locking device stationary and with the slots 12 at a proper height toreceive the axle or" an automobile.

In its unlocked position, the disk 1a is disposed so that the slot 16 is in line with the slots 12. Now if an automobile is run up to this locking device and its axle or like projecting part is forced into the slots 12, the rearward movement of the axle will cause the disk to rotate to the position shown in Fig. 1, and as soon as the disk has ro` tated to this position, the forward end of the latch 1S will be projected into the notch 17, thus locking the disk from a reverse rotation. This latch-cannot be released from its engagement with the disk until the outer end is forcibly raised, as for instance, by inserting a key' inthe lock casing 20n and Vprojecting' the bolt upward to force the outer end of the detent 18 and release its forward end from the disk. Then the automobile may be shiftedV under its own power to carry the` aXleout of the slot and this will Vcause the rotation of the disk back to its initial position.

` wishes to use the car, he inserts the key and projects the bolt of the lock so as to permit the rotation of the locking disk to its discharge position. The keymay then be left in the lock or removed, or itis obvious that if locksof this character are used on public stands or parks, that a keeper or guard may be provided with a master key whichwill open all the locks, and this keeper or guard may be called upon to release any automobile.

The device is particularly adapted to be used in garages, parks, or other public parking places. It will be seen that my device Vis very simple, is cheaply made aiidmay be readily installed Vand that it will prevent the stealing ot cars.

IVhileI have illustrated'and designed the lock to be used tc engage thev axle of an automobile, it'will be obvious that it might be used for other projecting portions on the car.

lhile I have illustrated a'form of my invention which I believe to be thoroughly practical and effectiveV in use,yet I do not wish tobe limited Vto. this, asA it is obvious that many changes might be made therein without departing from the spirit oi the invention.

I claim 1 1. An automobile lock comprising averj Atical casing having a horizontally extending slot, a rotatable disk disposed within the casing and having a straight tangential slot adapted in one position of the disk to register with the slot in the Vcasing and in the f other position to extend transversely to the casing slot, and means within the casing for locking the disk in the last named position.

2. An automobile lock comprising a vertical casing having a' horizontally extending straight slot, a disk disposed within and rotatably mounted on the casing and having a straight tangential slot adapted in one.

fixed casing having a horizontal straight slot adapted to receive the axle of an'automobile, a disk-likelocking member pivoted within the casingfor rotation'. in a vertical plane and having a tangential straight slot of the sainewidth as the slot in thevcasing and adapted to aline andregister therewith or, when the disk is rotated, toY extend at right angles to the casing, Vthe disk Ybeing provided invits periphery withfa'notch, a

latch pivoted within the casing and adapted to engage at one end with said notch, and a key actuated member disposed within the casing and adapted to engage with the other end of the latclito release it from its engage'- meiit with theV disk. Y

4i. An automobile lock comprising a' vertical casing having two side walls and a marginal flange, the casing'being adapted to be embedded at its base, the upper end ,of

the casing being formed with a straight hori- Zontal, inwardlyv extending slot ot a width Y to receive the axle of an automobile, a disk pivoted within the Ycasing and having 'a tangential slot of the same width as and adapted toaline with the slot of the casing in one position of the diskor to extend at right angles to the slot in the casing in another position of the disk, the periphery of the disk being notched, a latch normally bearing against the peripheryy of the casing and yieldingly forced into said notch when the disk is turnedto its'locking position,

and key actuated meansV for shitting saidV latch out of its engagement with the notch. In testimony whereof I hereuntoV alix my signature. f 'Y EDGAR MCoRAcKnN, 

